Question: Please explain Isaiah 66:24. Who is looking upon the dead bodies and when? Explain the worms that die not. Also, explain the fire will not be quenched.

Donald

Answer: Dear Donald,

Happy to take a look at Isaiah 66:24 with you.

One principle of hermeneutics (principles of understanding the Bible) is to ensure that a text is considered within its context – and that failure to do so often results in the text being used as a pretext. Considering a text in its context helps us avoid proof-texting – the practice of compiling passages on a specific topic, and then trying to make our case (which is not necessarily God’s case!). When such a thing is done, we often ignore the fact that each passage comes from a different kind of writing God inspires in the Bible (and there are many, ranging from law to prophecy to narrative to proverb to psalms to wisdom literature to epistles, etc.) – all with its own purposes, etc.

We need to ensure that God is speaking to us – and not try to tell him what he said, as we determine meaning, based upon our contemporary reality, understanding, etc.

Isaiah – the book. I cannot take the time to give a background here – you can find resources for doing so. Briefly – Isaiah is a prophecy – called one of the major prophets. Many themes are used throughout Isaiah – with topics like the sovereignty of God, prophecies of the coming Messiah (the Servant Songs of Isaiah), repentance and judgement and uniqueness, being among them.

We need to consider the style of literature, and devices that God uses as he inspires Isaiah. Much of Isaiah is written in poetic style, with devices like alliteration, wordplay, personification and hyperbole contributing to the richness of God’s inspiration. We might counter and say, "Well, I just want to understand the Bible literally." But if someone reads a letter that I write, and I tell them that the day I wrote the letter it was "raining cats and dogs" – and they resist any effort to understand idioms and hyperbole that I use, then their literal interpretation is going to be far from the message I intended, won’t it?

Isaiah also uses symbolism – with mountains, trees, water, plants, grass, light and darkness, rocks, highways, vineyards, animals, occupations, warfare, and in the case of the passage you ask about, fire – some of the time these words are used symbolically, communicating poetically some greater truth than the literal meaning would convey, and sometimes they are used literally. The immediate context of the passage and chapter help us to understand when they are symbolic and when they are literal.

Isaiah is a unit, with literary integrity – not thrown together, but inspired with completion and as a package – compare the verse of judgement about which you ask (66:24) with the second verse of the first chapter – The beginning and end of the book speak of the same fate that await those who persist in rebellion – and the same Hebrew term is used (pasa) in both places.

As you alluded to in your question, Jesus quotes this passage (Mark 9:48) – speaking of hell, where worms do not die, neither is fire quenched. This is the fate, in Isaiah, of those who have rebelled against God.

But what is it EXACTLY? Where is it? How long does it last? How hot is it? Does Isaiah 66:24 tell us this? Sure – we can try to "make it" address those questions – but does it?

Fire is used in Isaiah to symbolize both purification and judgement. Refining fires are spoken of, as is the furnace of affliction. Sometimes the wicked are spoken of as setting themselves on fire (does this mean literally, is that what really will happen – or presently happens in hell?). In the final judgement the Lord "comes with fire" and hurls flames against his foes (66:15-16). How will he do that? Will it look like a flame thrower? Does God mean for us to understand the fact that he will "hurl flames" symbolically, that his holiness and righteousness will obliterate and destroy evil, OR that he will incinerate (or only slowly torture) those who rebel against him – or both?

The righteous and redeemed will walk through fire and not be burned (43:2) – what does this mean? Does this mean Christians should be able to walk on hot coals with their bare feet and not be burned? Does this mean that those who are found righteous by the blood of the Lamb will visit hell and walk in the flames of hell?

Why take the time to pose just a few questions like this before addressing your question? Because understanding the Bible properly is not a hit or miss thing. We should "tremble before God’s Word." Trembling before God’s Word is a good practice before prayerfully and carefully understanding the Bible – any part of it – but since your question is about Isaiah 66:24 and since Isaiah 66:2, 5, counsel us to do just that – since that teaching is in the same chapter, we would be well advised to study and pray before coming up with specific conclusions.

Back to fire – and to graphic pictures of degradation. Isaiah is filled with word pictures about the fate of those who rebel against him. See for example Isaiah 25:10-11. The fate of Moab will be like "straw trampled down in manure. They will spread out their hands in it, as a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim." Would we be justified telling others that hell will include a place where people swim through manure? Would this interpretation be "trembling before God’s Word?"

To your question specifically – Isaiah 66:24: The torment of those who rebel is described here as those who "will be loathsome to all mankind." The Hebrew word for loathsome is used only here and in Daniel 12:2, where it is used of "everlasting contempt" that is in store for the wicked (in contrast to everlasting life that awaits believers).

What does this mean? Does this mean everlasting torment – in an everburning and everlasting hell fire? How can we be dogmatic about such an interpretation? It might be true – for there are passages in other places in the Bible that seem to indicate such a thing – in the Gospels, in the book of Revelation. If we understand 66:24 literally, then surely we should understand the verse immediately before it literally as well – or are we free to pick and choose whatever fits our fancy? The verse before says that there will be a future time when all mankind (not just the Jews) will worship God on New Moons and Sabbaths. Back to the old covenant? Oh no, this must be symbolic.

Well, then 66:25 must be symbolic – using a current understanding that Isaiah’s original audience had of worshipping the one true God to give them a picture of a time when all mankind would worship the one true God, and not the gods of paganism.

Sounds true and correct to us, doesn’t it? Well, then perhaps we could consider that symbolism, and not wooden literalism would continue to guide our thinking as we read Isaiah 66:24. Could hell be a "place" or "condition" of eternal separation from God – and whether the wicked are eternally tormented or tortured, or simply separated forever – such a condition will be "loathsome" (as mentioned above)? Whatever we conclude, we would be well advised to remember the symbolism and imagery that is used here in Isaiah. We would be well advised to take care with dogmatism and tremble at God’s Word.

Am I saying that we can’t be convicted of anything for sure. No, not at all. We do not want to be regarded as loathsome for all eternity. We do not want to "be" "in" hell – whatever and wherever it is. Hell will be a place that is loathsome. We would not want to be "there" anymore than we would want to attempt to swim in manure. The contrast between those who follow Jesus Christ, and those who have his righteousness imputed to them by God’s grace, and those who rebel and refuse to accept Jesus Christ is huge – it is like that great gulf we read about between Lazarus and the Rich Man.

For much more about hell, read our Plain Truth magazine article "Eternal Torture -- Divine or Human Vengeance."

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht